Beyond 2015: Ford confirms Falcon and Mustang will share platform.
1/13/10, 04:04 AM
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Beyond 2015: Ford confirms Falcon and Mustang will share platform.
Hi folks.
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Ford has quickly hosed-down the latest speculation that tried to spell the end of the local Falcon.
The 'One Ford' program announced by Ford's American chief, Alan Mulally at the Detroit Auto show aims to simplify the company's global model lineup - less different nameplates and platforms sold in more countries means lower development and production costs.
Ford says, rather than beginning the end of the Falcon, this means future Falcons will be integrated into the global scheme.
The logical replacement for the Falcon as Ford's large car in Australia would be the front-wheel-drive Taurus. 'Not so' says Ford - the hot-selling, iconic Mustang coupe is rear-wheel-drive, so the company will continue to develop rear-wheel-drive platforms and the next Falcon could share that platform with the Mustang.
According to Ford Australia, with the current FG generation Falcon scheduled to run - with several upgrades and facelifts in the pipeline - for another four years and the Territory SUV slated for production until 2016, the company's future is already being mapped out and is bright.
A key plank in that future is the current $230 million investment in new powertrain technologies for the Falcon - including a fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine.
Rather than the first chapter in a eulogy for the Falcon, Ford's 'One Ford' program could deliver Australian buyers a new global perspective on design and a platform shared with the Mustang - that would seem to be good news for the Falcon.
The 'One Ford' program announced by Ford's American chief, Alan Mulally at the Detroit Auto show aims to simplify the company's global model lineup - less different nameplates and platforms sold in more countries means lower development and production costs.
Ford says, rather than beginning the end of the Falcon, this means future Falcons will be integrated into the global scheme.
The logical replacement for the Falcon as Ford's large car in Australia would be the front-wheel-drive Taurus. 'Not so' says Ford - the hot-selling, iconic Mustang coupe is rear-wheel-drive, so the company will continue to develop rear-wheel-drive platforms and the next Falcon could share that platform with the Mustang.
According to Ford Australia, with the current FG generation Falcon scheduled to run - with several upgrades and facelifts in the pipeline - for another four years and the Territory SUV slated for production until 2016, the company's future is already being mapped out and is bright.
A key plank in that future is the current $230 million investment in new powertrain technologies for the Falcon - including a fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine.
Rather than the first chapter in a eulogy for the Falcon, Ford's 'One Ford' program could deliver Australian buyers a new global perspective on design and a platform shared with the Mustang - that would seem to be good news for the Falcon.
1/13/10, 07:15 AM
#4
GTR Member
Still, plenty of time for Ford to work it all out. I'd like to think this may spawn even more RWD cars......Thunderbird anyone? Interceptor 4 door?
1/13/10, 10:00 AM
#7
I Have No Life
This is just reading online too, and thinking out loud.
If D2C gets updated for the next model year ... I am wondering if it will be made with the Falcon in mind.
Its supposedly getting lighter and smaller. And really its only been on the Mustang and was purpose built for the mustang (and originally for an IRS)
Something else I read online was how the GRWD platform was nixxed because Lincoln didn't want to loose its space, and Mustang didn't want to gain weight (which would be required if they all shared this new GRWD)
Makes sense to me, and realistically, D2C isn't that old and with its updates should be able to last another gen or 2 (especially if the Gens/MCEs are getting shorter)
If D2C gets updated for the next model year ... I am wondering if it will be made with the Falcon in mind.
Its supposedly getting lighter and smaller. And really its only been on the Mustang and was purpose built for the mustang (and originally for an IRS)
Something else I read online was how the GRWD platform was nixxed because Lincoln didn't want to loose its space, and Mustang didn't want to gain weight (which would be required if they all shared this new GRWD)
Makes sense to me, and realistically, D2C isn't that old and with its updates should be able to last another gen or 2 (especially if the Gens/MCEs are getting shorter)
1/13/10, 11:34 AM
#9
Unfortunately that's probably going to be inevitable. As more govt standards come into play, they'll have to add the weight regardless. Stiffer door frames, safety cages ,crumple zones, etc. are an example of this. I do think that as new materials emerge, develop an infrastructure, and are mass produced, we might see them start to come back the other way, but only to a point. You can't make cars TOO light, or we have another problem.
1/13/10, 11:55 AM
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Unfortunately that's probably going to be inevitable. As more govt standards come into play, they'll have to add the weight regardless. Stiffer door frames, safety cages ,crumple zones, etc. are an example of this. I do think that as new materials emerge, develop an infrastructure, and are mass produced, we might see them start to come back the other way, but only to a point. You can't make cars TOO light, or we have another problem.
1981 Corvette: 3307lbs, 190hp
2010 Corvette: 3208lbs, 430hp
1/13/10, 12:21 PM
#11
I was at an SAE conference last year and the discussion on emerging tech came up, and the example shown was the MkI Rabbit/Golf GTI vs. the Mk VI GTI. Basically the weight and hp went up, but the performance stayed the same. The point was that they've had to do a lot to keep things from really sticking out. The goal is to stop that and go the other way.
1/13/10, 12:52 PM
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1/13/10, 12:54 PM
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I've long used the Vette as a great example that cars don't inevitably have to get bigger, fatter and heavier, while adding modern features and yet staying at the same price point (inflation adjusted).
1/13/10, 01:19 PM
#16
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That can all be dialed out with proper suspension tuning. I've owned numerous cars that weighed between 2000 and 2500 lbs, had most of them to triple digit speeds, on the street and the track. A slightly smaller next generation Mustang that weighed 3200-3300 lbs could still drive well on the street and track, and perform the same with less power (or perform better with the same power).
1/13/10, 01:31 PM
#17
That can all be dialed out with proper suspension tuning. I've owned numerous cars that weighed between 2000 and 2500 lbs, had most of them to triple digit speeds, on the street and the track. A slightly smaller next generation Mustang that weighed 3200-3300 lbs could still drive well on the street and track, and perform the same with less power (or perform better with the same power).
1/13/10, 01:39 PM
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2200 lbs? No, that's why I said 3200-3300 lbs would be nice to see in the next Mustang. Something about the size and weight of the Fox body with more modern powertrains and updated suspension tuning.
1/13/10, 01:43 PM
#20
I was being facetious. I would love to see one around 3200 lbs and carrying 425+ hp and some nice meaty tires. I'd also really like to see a sedan like the Falcon (or recent Interceptor concept) come to be with a EB V6/ V8 and RWD. I truly hope that we see a RWD sedan again in the future.